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Tuesday, March 22, 2005

The Senate unanimously agreed Tuesday that strengthening Social Security was "avital national priority" but split acrimoniously along party lines on what to doabout it in the first votes on President Bush's plans.In one exception tothe party divide, five Republicans broke ranks and voted with the Democrats infavor of a resolution declaring, "Congress should reject any Social Securityplan that requires deep benefit cuts or a massive increase in debt."

So why is there debate? Apparently, both Democrats and Republicans agree that Social Security needs to be fixed. After all, doing nothing would mean that after the illusory "trust fund" is exhausted around 2042, benefits would have to be cut about 30% (I'd call that deep), or debt would have to be increased, to pay promised benefits.

It's another meaningless vote by a party unwilling to deal with this serious problem.